Chancellor Caprivi 1890

Who was Caprivi:

• Caprivi was a middle aged soldier who had a good administrative record, but had little experience in politics. 
• He became Chancellor in 1890, hoping to stand above parties and particular interests. 
• He had been chosen by Wilhelm because the Kaiser believed that he was an amenable character, who would do what he was told.

However:

• Caprivi soon presented a will of his own through his first speech, where he declared that he was ready to steer a 'new course.'
• This would involve a more consultative approach to govt and a conciliatory attitude to previously hostile forces. 

In Caprivi's first few weeks as Chancellor, he went out of his way to make concessions to Socialists, Poles and Centrists:

• For example, the anti-Socialist laws were allowed to lapse.
• Schools populated by the Polish in Prussian areas, were now allowed to use the Polish language for teaching purposes. 
• Conciliation proved successful, enabling Caprivi to rely on the Reichstag support to push through a no. of social measures in 1891:
  • Sunday work was prohibited. 
  • Children under the age of 13 were forbidden to be employed. 
  • Women were also forbidden to work more than 11 hours a week. 
  • Courts, with representatives from both sides of industry, were set up to arbitrate in industrial disputes. 

Caprivi's most important single measure put before the Reichstag, was a bill to reform the 1879 Tariff Act:

• As a result of wheat shortages leading to a rise in food prices, Caprivi negotiated a series of commerical treaties with Austria, Italy, russia and some of the smaller states between 1891 and 1894. 
• Germany agreed to reduce tariffs on agricultural imports, if they would get favourable rates for German manufactured goods in return. 

The Agrarian League was formed in 1893:

• It soon had 300,000 members so it became an effective and well organised PG.
• It opposed the tariff reform, along with the Conservatives, that Caprivi introduced.
• It was an anit-Semitic, rablle rousing movement which won widespread support in eastern Prussia. 
• It mounted an extreme anti-Caprivi propaganda campaign which denounces him as a socialist bent on ruining wheat producers. 
• The campaign also agitated for subsidies, import controls and minimum prices to protect German farmers. 

The Army Bill:

• Caprivi reduced the period of military service from 3 to 2 years, which angered the right even further. 
• He introduced an army bill that increased the peacetime army strength by 84,000, which alienated the left. 
• However, this bill was defeated. 
• Therefore, Caprivi dissolved the Reichstag. 
• The Conservatives and National Liberals improved their position in the 1893 election. 
• As a result, the new Reichstag passed the army bill. 

Caprivi was dismissed as Chancellor because:

• Wilhelm's growing doubts about Caprivi's political suitability was reinforced by the Conservative opposition to the 'new course.'
• Wilhelm pressed him to draw up new anti-Socialist measures because he was worried by the SPD's growing success in 1893 across Europe. 
• However, Caprivi refused as he knew that the Reichstag woudn't tolerate such a step.
• Therefore, the Kaiser's power was increased at the expense of the Reichstag and to crush socialism, by Wilhelm and Prussian Minister-President Count Eulenburg devising a plan to change the constitution.
• However, Caprivi managed to talk Wilhelm out of such a course of action, which lost the Kaiser's confidence in him. 
• As a result, in October 1894, Caprivi resigned.